A loud buzzing sound pierced the silence of the room, startling Xi Qian from her restless slumber. Rubbing her eyes and groaning, she rolled to her right and turned her alarm off. She reminded herself that this was a new beginning in her life and she should get used to not waking up on her comfy bed at home for the time being.
Staring at the glowing numbers on the clock on the nightstand, she realized that she had only slept four hours. She had a hard time sleeping last night, and she knew it was because she wasn't used to sleeping in such a huge bed that could fit four persons.
'Such a waste of space to sleep on my own.' She muttered, but realized that she had not shared a bed with anyone for almost half a year now. Not that she was missing it or anything, but it would be nice to have someone to see when she woke up in the mornings, especially with a bed as huge as she had right now.
Stifling a yawn, Xi Qian pulled her slender arms above her head in order to relieve the stiffness she felt. As soon as she stood up, she walked over to her closet and pulled her light blue scrubs and went straight to the washroom to freshen up before officially starting her first day at work.
She was starting to question herself for accepting this job in the first place. While it would save her a lot of money from transportation and food expenses staying at the Li family's home, Xi Qian felt that there was more to it than looking after her patient.
Xi Qian wasn't looking forward to witnessing another fight between the two brothers, nor to hearing complaints from Madam Li. Thankfully, her patient was understanding enough and had only asked her to see him when it's needed.
Having a private nurse to look after him wasn't his idea anyway. It was Li Xiran who insisted on hiring one, and surprisingly, his younger brother and stepmother agreed with him.
Satisfied with her appearance reflected on the mirror, Xi Qian made her way downstairs to see if she could help the housemaids somehow. No Li family members were in sight, as it was still a little too early.
In the mornings, she only needed to make sure that her patient had taken his medicine on time and monitor the meal plan for Chairman Li for the day. Xi Qian would be free the whole afternoon and could use this time to review her notes.
She made sure not to join the rest of the family for meals and had her own alone to avoid being involved and dragged into the family's problems.
"Good morning."
Xi Qian was caught off guard when Li Xiran appeared behind her as she checked the fridge to find something to eat. She turned around and found him dressed in a white shirt and gray sweatpants, while wiping the sweat on the side of his face with a towel.
"Morning." She said in return, thinking that her encounters with Li Xiran would increase now that she was living under the same roof as him.
"Dad is already up, but he won't come down with his wife for about an hour or so." He paused as he gave her a good look before glancing at the time on his watch. "Do you have to be so early, Nurse Xi?"
Xi Qian gave him a bland smile and pulled out a bottle of water, passing it to him before taking another one for herself. Li Xiran thanked her and twisted the cap of his water bottle, drinking half of its contents in one go.
"Mr. Li should know that nurses like me rarely get a good night's sleep." She replied, but didn't dare to dwell on the fact that she had always been a light sleeper and had trouble sleeping at night.
Li Xiran hummed in understanding. He was in no position to question her sleeping habits, as he wasn't any better than her. However, before anything else…
"I would have to apologize if my presence or my brother's is making you uncomfortable. I know that you came here to take care of our father and not to witness childlike arguments between me and Li Xingtian. If possible, please turn a blind eye to it and pretend you didn't hear any of it."
"That's easier said than done, Mr. Li." Xi Qian said with a straight face. "I don't need to remind you what almost caused your father's life last time, right?"
Li Xiran hardened his jaws, knowing what she had said was right. His father almost got another heart attack back at the hospital a month ago after witnessing yet another heated argument between him and Li Xingtian.
If it wasn't for Xi Qian, Li Xiran knew that he wouldn't be able to talk or to see his father at this very moment. She had immediately sprung into action and pressed the emergency button in his father's hospital room. Xi Qian then chased everyone out of the room as the doctors tended to his ailing father.
"I'm in no position to ask you about your issues with your younger brother, but you are both adults now and should know better. The least you could do is to be civil with one another." She commented, thinking that this should be the last time she would say her piece.
Li Xiran stared at her and nodded, surprising her for the second time. Xi Qian didn't expect that this man would easily yield to what she said, not when it was obvious that he still had some grievances with the fact that his father remarried and started another family without him.
"I cannot promise that there will be no more arguments and physical fights, though." He answered.
"As long as it's not in front of your father. That's all I ask from you."
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶